Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) Explained in Simple Words
Science ABC
Jul 7, 2025 12:30
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What is the cosmic microwave background (CMB)? In this video, we explain the leftover radiation from the Big Bang in simple words — from how the Big Bang theory predicts an expanding universe (confirmed by Hubble's Law in the 1920s), to how Penzias and Wilson accidentally discovered the CMB in 1965 while working on a radio receiver. Learn why the early universe was opaque, how the first atoms formed 380,000 years after the Big Bang, and why NASA called the CMB "the first baby picture of the universe."
Whether you're an astronomy student, a space enthusiast, or just curious about how scientists look back 13.8 billion years in time, this beginner-friendly animated explainer covers it all.
CHAPTERS:
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KEY TOPICS COVERED:
• What the cosmic microwave background is: leftover radiation from the Big Bang
• Evidence for the Big Bang: Hubble's Law and the expanding universe
• How Penzias and Wilson accidentally discovered CMB in 1965
• Why the early universe was opaque and how it became transparent after 380,000 years
• What CMB maps reveal about the infant universe's shape, size, and temperature
• Why NASA called CMB observations "the first baby picture of the universe"
#CosmicMicrowaveBackground #CMB #BigBang #OriginOfUniverse #Cosmology #AstronomyExplained
REFERENCES:
https://science.nasa.gov/missions/cobe/
https://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/universe/bb_tests_cmb.html
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Planck
Voice Over: John Staughton (https://www.fiverr.com/jswildwood)
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Science & Technology
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